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annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Road to Grantchester is the newest Grantchester novel by James Runcie. Released 7th May 2019 by Bloomsbury, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio formats.
Although this is the seventh book in the series, it's a prequel and develops Sidney Chambers' life during and after WW2. The book deals with his loss of innocence in war and maturation as well as the often fraught road along the way to his religious calling. The book is divided into four sections (War, Peace, Faith, Love) delineating his own pilgrim's progress from the hellishness of war and personal loss through to his personal enlightenment and re-purposing his life in service to others.
This could have been a very very heavy and potentially pompous book. However, Runcie's deftness and expertise with everything technical in his writing as well as an unerring ear for dialogue and dramatic tension turn this into a sublime read. I really enjoyed every single page.
All of the books have had a somewhat melancholy feeling for me. They're all so exquisitely well written that the misty melancholy jazzy feeling is part and parcel of the books' appeal in some way and I wouldn't change anything about them. I don't think I'd recommend binge reading them though, that might be a bit much.
Five stars. This one is my favourite of the series to date.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Road to Grantchester is the newest Grantchester novel by James Runcie. Released 7th May 2019 by Bloomsbury, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio formats.
Although this is the seventh book in the series, it's a prequel and develops Sidney Chambers' life during and after WW2. The book deals with his loss of innocence in war and maturation as well as the often fraught road along the way to his religious calling. The book is divided into four sections (War, Peace, Faith, Love) delineating his own pilgrim's progress from the hellishness of war and personal loss through to his personal enlightenment and re-purposing his life in service to others.
This could have been a very very heavy and potentially pompous book. However, Runcie's deftness and expertise with everything technical in his writing as well as an unerring ear for dialogue and dramatic tension turn this into a sublime read. I really enjoyed every single page.
All of the books have had a somewhat melancholy feeling for me. They're all so exquisitely well written that the misty melancholy jazzy feeling is part and parcel of the books' appeal in some way and I wouldn't change anything about them. I don't think I'd recommend binge reading them though, that might be a bit much.
Five stars. This one is my favourite of the series to date.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
peterp3's review against another edition
5.0
Thoughtful and well-written study of the impact of war on a young man, and his search for God as a result of his experiences. Most of the characters have a complex mix of feelings and motivations, which is good, and the historical context is presented well. Although this is a prequel, I came across it having never read any of the Granchester Mysteries, and it stands up well on its own. I’ll have to read one of the original books now!
jkdehaven's review against another edition
3.0
This book acts as a prequel to the Grantchester mystery series. It tells the story of Sidney Chambers as he fights in World War II and eventually decides to become a priest. I enjoyed reading the Grantchester mysteries and watching the miniseries. However, I struggled that this book essentially switched genres. While the mysteries are told in short story, with Sidney working to solve a mystery, this is more of a work of historical fiction. As a result, I did not enjoy this book as much as the mystery stories. I feel like the mysteries were more successful for storytelling. Still, I appreciated the story about how Sidney became a priest. It also offers some good insight about what it is like to experience PTSD and try to re-engage in everyday life.
valparaiso45's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a departure for me from my dominant reading tastes, but an enjoyable one nonetheless because of my enjoyment of the Masterpiece mystery series “Grantchester” for which this book is the “prequel”. Here we find the backstory of the show’s central character—Sidney Chambers, a young, English war survivor who decides to become a Vicar in the Church of England after he returns from fighting with the Scots Guards on the Western Front of WWII. He fought in Italy, lost his best friend Robert Kendall, and returns to the friendship of Robert’s sister Amanda, to wrestle with a host of questions about the meaning of his life, his relationship with his guilt, his hope for the future, including Amanda, and his role as a survivor in the face of so much senseless loss.
I find James Runcie’s use of the present tense both unfamiliar and appealing in its immediacy. Runcie also weaves a series of subtle spiritual insights into his narrative which I appreciated for their resonance with questions I have asked about life. I do wish he would have given more depth to the characters, though. They all seem a little flat. Overall it was an enjoyable intro to the series which has a richness to it missing from this “prequel”. The book is somewhat disconnected from the premise of the show, deliberately to be sure, which is focused on an episodic murder mystery while developing the backstory of these characters.
Favorite Quotes:
"You mustn’t dwell. It makes you moody." -Sidney Chambers' mother (5/2/21)
I find James Runcie’s use of the present tense both unfamiliar and appealing in its immediacy. Runcie also weaves a series of subtle spiritual insights into his narrative which I appreciated for their resonance with questions I have asked about life. I do wish he would have given more depth to the characters, though. They all seem a little flat. Overall it was an enjoyable intro to the series which has a richness to it missing from this “prequel”. The book is somewhat disconnected from the premise of the show, deliberately to be sure, which is focused on an episodic murder mystery while developing the backstory of these characters.
Favorite Quotes:
"You mustn’t dwell. It makes you moody." -Sidney Chambers' mother (5/2/21)
ann_reads22's review against another edition
4.0
They look on human existence with a sad and loving amusement, patrolling the borders between life and death, believing that the best way to behave is with dignity and grace. Grace, that was the word. This is what Sydney wants. How can he learn to have grace?
Since I am a fan of the Masterpiece Mystery TV series, Grantchester, I started reading this novel a whim, more out of curiosity than anything else. This book is a prequel, written after the initial mystery series had been published. The story begins with the main character, Sidney Chambers, serving in the Scots Guard during WWII. There are some graphic descriptions of battle scenes but much of the story focuses on the psychological effects of war, continuing on into peacetime. Readers are given glimpses into the factors leading up to Sidney finally making the decision to become a clergyman, including one horrible event that happens during a battle, and his ongoing discussions with Reverend (Rev) Nev. It was also interesting to learn about Sydney's family members, who don't play much of a role in the TV series.
It was difficult not to insert mental images and voices of actors from the tv series into the story, so I just let them be part of the characters in the book. I am also not sure how much my enjoyment of the TV series played into my rating of the book, but it doesn't really matter. I am not usually a big reader of mysteries (although I enjoy some mystery TV shows) but I did like this novel and the way it was written.
Since I am a fan of the Masterpiece Mystery TV series, Grantchester, I started reading this novel a whim, more out of curiosity than anything else. This book is a prequel, written after the initial mystery series had been published. The story begins with the main character, Sidney Chambers, serving in the Scots Guard during WWII. There are some graphic descriptions of battle scenes but much of the story focuses on the psychological effects of war, continuing on into peacetime. Readers are given glimpses into the factors leading up to Sidney finally making the decision to become a clergyman, including one horrible event that happens during a battle, and his ongoing discussions with Reverend (Rev) Nev. It was also interesting to learn about Sydney's family members, who don't play much of a role in the TV series.
It was difficult not to insert mental images and voices of actors from the tv series into the story, so I just let them be part of the characters in the book. I am also not sure how much my enjoyment of the TV series played into my rating of the book, but it doesn't really matter. I am not usually a big reader of mysteries (although I enjoy some mystery TV shows) but I did like this novel and the way it was written.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
I found this a really interesting read - but it is completely different in tone from the series that it is a prequel to. There is no mystery here - it's a character development piece - as you watch Sidney go through the things that you have seen referenced in the book. I enjoyed it - although I wanted a bit more actual action - but then I guess that's what I'm used to in the series proper.
***Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review******
***Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review******
paging_snidget's review against another edition
2.0
Very slow moving. Never really got attached to the characters or really engaged with the narrative. Very nearly put it down half way through.
teepland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
annikavo's review against another edition
4.0
Wat een mooie aanvulling op de serie Grantchester. Vooral het eerste deel over de Tweede wereldoorlog is erg indrukwekkend.
Het heeft een andere indeling als de andere boeken, dat zijn steeds losse verhalen die toch samenhangen. Dit is de reis van de jonge man Sidney naar Dominee Sidney. Een mooie reis om over te lezen.
Het heeft een andere indeling als de andere boeken, dat zijn steeds losse verhalen die toch samenhangen. Dit is de reis van de jonge man Sidney naar Dominee Sidney. Een mooie reis om over te lezen.
katebyroade's review against another edition
4.0
This is a prequel to the Grantchester mysteries, but is not a mystery story. It’s an origin story for the characters, but mostly a World War II story and the story of a man becoming committed to his faith.
I enjoyed it, and it’s very well written, but it’s a serious, thoughtful, read and prospective readers should know that beforehand.
I enjoyed it, and it’s very well written, but it’s a serious, thoughtful, read and prospective readers should know that beforehand.